Michigan guard Trey Burke has garnered player of the year honors this season. The Burke-Wolters matchup is one of the main story lines preceding tonight's game. / Elisha Page / Argus Leader

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AUBURN HILLS, MICH. — The University of Michigan squad that South Dakota State will face tonight has more NBA-caliber talent than anybody else in the NCAA Division I men’s basketball tournament.

At least, that’s how CBSSports.com sees things.

The Wolverines don’t just have talent, they have talent from talent in the form of three NBA legacies: Tim Hardaway Jr., Glenn Robinson III and Jon Horford. And that doesn’t account for point guard Trey Burke, crowned the national player of the year by Sports Illustrated. Shooter Nik Stauskas and post Mitch McGary also are said to be pro prospects.

No wonder the fourth-seeded Wolverines (26-7) have designs on making a long-awaited tournament run. For all their tradition, they haven’t been to the Sweet 16 since 1994, when four of the Fab Five were on campus.

“We were brought here for a reason,” said Hardaway, a junior guard who puts up 14.8 points and 4.7 rebounds a game. “Coach (John) Beilein does a great job of recruiting and it just happened. We weren’t planning on doing this. It’s a blessing for all of us to be on the same team, and we’re riding it.”

It’s hard to dispute that the convergence of talent was spontaneous and largely coincidental. Hardaway went to high school in Florida and Robinson in Indiana – only Horford grew up in Michigan. They’re all from different classes and none of their famous fathers played for the Wolverines. What’s more, Michigan wasn’t burning up the Big Ten when they were being recruited, finishing under .500 in two of the first three seasons under Beilein.

Still, a gene grab was not part of the rebuilding plan.

“It’s pure coincidence, but we really feel good about it,” he said. “Their dads know basketball to allow their sons to go to Michigan, I know they felt value in the education of Michigan. They’d all been through this, and they’re educated, and they decided Michigan was a good place for their sons to go.”

The moms had to sign off, too, Beilein noted. But they did.

It’s paid off – the reached the No.1 ranking for the first time since 1992 earlier this season. And they don’t seem to sweat the storyline – perhaps because they know the drill.

“You’ve got to stay in the moment at all times,” the true freshman forward said. “I think the coaching staff does a great job of expressing that. We’re not looking into the future – we’re taking it day-by-day, game-by-game. That’s something we have to continue to do.”

As far as SDSU (25-9) knows, facing clubs loaded with NBA talent is the norm in the NCAA tournament. Last year, it opened against Baylor, a team that had three players taken in the subsequent draft. How did that go? The Jacks had a good look from 3-point range when down four in the final minute.

That was in their Big Dance debut. This time, they’ve come bearing experience and their own NBA prospect in point guard Nate Wolters.

His dad played D-III ball, for whatever that’s worth.

“I think a lot of us felt overwhelmed emotionally,” SDSU junior forward Marcus Heemstra said, “and I think this year, with some of the guys back returning, that’s going to be a big part of been there done that. We’ll be able to keep a little bit of those nerves under control.”